The Young Master in the Shadows

Chapter 102: Negotiations

It took the car some time to reach the mansion where Grandma Ann lived.

When Victor stepped out of the car he was greeted by a fat face that sat on a fat body.

“Young master, we meet at last.” The fat man said it was Kai.

“What are you doing here?” Victor asked him immediately making him skip the introduction he was planning,

“I went ahead to inform the mistress of your arrival,” Kai said proudly.

“And you were kicked out,” Victor said, looking at the dirt on Kai’s pants.

Kai quickly nodded with embarrassment, that slut ordered her servants to throw him out. Oh, he can’t say that out loud. If he did that, his fat head would be free to roll by itself on the ground.

“The matriarch didn’t want to see you.” Kai said, “She told me to tell you to just do your assignment, and marry Linda.” He added.

“Oh, then step aside and keep Lily company. I will reason with her.” Victor said as he headed to the manor, under Lily’s worried gaze.

“The mistress does not want to see you.” The guard said.

“Tell her, I have smoothing that would change her mind. Something to do with the sword sect.” Victor said, making the guard look at the butler who was standing at the door.

The butler quickly went inside then returned and invited Victor in.

…

It was the same drawing-room in which he met his grandmother the last time he was here. She was waiting for him while reading a book. It was a BL novel. He did find a full stack of those when he unearthed this mansion back then.

“So what deal do you have for me this time?” She raised her head and asked him as he entered the room.

“Something you can’t refuse.” He said as he used his appraisal skill. This time he could read her stats.

Wow, as expected of a family head. Too bad such status would become useless after the Reckoning.

“Oh, something I can’t refuse. You sound like some lousy salesman. What might that thing be?” She asked as she looked at him with interest.

“I need a promise first,” He said.

“About Aria?” She asked.

“Yes, and a few other things, think of it as a deal.” He said.

“That depends…What do you have?” She asked curiously.

“A treasure that can make a semi-player upgrade to a player under certain conditions,” Victor said.

“Really?” She asked with a frown in a surprised yet unbelieving voice. “do tell me,”

“It's called the Pendant of Armas, It can increase the authority of whoever wears it by one,” he said.

“What's the catch?” she asked. such treasures usually have huge penalties.

“It can only be worn by players below level 5.” He said as he helped himself to a seat. While Ann looked at him with curious eyes, waiting for him to further explain.

“I heard that young master Wang Ling from the sword sect was his patriarch’s only son and that his father lost the ability to have other children due to practicing a certain technique.” He said, “Wang Ling has only awakened as a semi player so he lost the qualification to inherit his father’s seat. He might want this treasure. I heard that their sect is on the brink of an inner war for succession in the absence of a suitable candidate. Victor said, making his grandmother throw the book in her hand to the table and then look at him.

“I already know that. Stop your mind games and tell me how this treasure can be useful.” She said with indifference, but he could see the fire of interest flickering in her eyes.

“The Mardik Curse,” he said, making Ann frown the smile then began to laugh, while clapping her hand.

In the depth of the Dawn valley, there exists a cleared dungeon. It was cleared and searched many times to the point where nothing of value remains there. But one in it there exists a demonic pond. If someone entered it with equipment, the thing would be permanently fused with the wearer's body. And that victim would be bald and lose the ability to have children. In addition to that, he would never be able to take off his equipment or wear another one.

Only desperate people would go through that. And usually to equip high-level treasure. As the curse totally ignores the equipping requirements.

Wang Ling was a pervert who had already fathered tens of children so his father would probably push him into the dark pond himself. As the elders of the sect were on the verge of deposing him as the patriarch.

“Well played.” She said, “This would be a good move. Ok, good, good. What do you want in exchange? I will not accept a request to nullify your marriage though, as this has something to do with family interests. Don't think that your little play at the party yesterday would make me change my mind. ” She said, with a smile.

“I am not an idiot,” He said, “ I already know that you are using me as a decoy to divert the other power's attention from the real elite heirs. Can I ask why you are so insistent on this marriage contract? Those Von Rosens probably want to use me to infiltrate the family.” Victor added, hinting at the danger.

“Oh, not bad. You are not stupid after all.” She praised with a mocking smile. “Ok, I will tell you why. 16 years ago Amelia traded her daughter with three drops of purified blood from our family. I need to know what have they done with it, and if they got anything useful. If you can get me this information I can spare you the marriage and grant you all the rights of an elite disciple. If not, I want you to marry her then try to find the information I want, through her or her mother. She is her mother's only daughter after all. And their family is ruled by women.” Ann said, making Victor frown. He needs a change of plans.

“That means that you would never really give me any real position in the family, so as not to let them infiltrate us.” He said.

“Exactly. Not for the time being anyway.” She replied.

He frowned but was secretly really glad. Just as he wanted. Being given a family position would put him under the family’s strict surveillance. And he didn’t want that.

“Ok, First I need Aria.” He said.

“You can take her. She has already been branded by the family/s tattoo. So she would be your servant. Anything else?” She asked.

Victor hesitated, he wanted to ask for some COINs for the pendant before but not anymore, as he had just got a piggy bank at home and no longer needed the money.

“I heard from my sister that elite disciples have the chance to visit the vault. And I was not granted that right. So I would require the right to select one item from there.” He said, making Ann frown, she didn't expect him to know about those.

"Fine. It’s your right anyway. you have more?" She asked.

"Yes. I want the girls that were trained with my servant Lily in the assassin's hall" He said,

"Oh, those girls. Dick intends to sacrifice them as a tribute at his son's funeral tomorrow morning. You just got here in time. Such a waste of resources. You can go get them,” Ann said. making Victor frown. That bastard, he should get rid of him fast.

“If that’s all I would need the Pendant?” She asked impatiently.

Victor quickly took out the Pendant from his ring and threw it at her. He is no longer in the mood to talk.

She looked with interest at the two rings in Victor's hand, then ignored them and began to inspect the pendant. She would have to appraise it. But Victor would never dare to lie to her.

“Come here two days later to enter the vault.” She said as she threw him two jade tokens. “These are patriarchal command tokens, use them to get Aria and the girls.” She said then waving her hand and throwing him out of the window into the front yard head first.

“Bitch,” Victor screamed silently as he stood up and dusted his pants, then left the mansion.

“Is everything ok young master?” Kai asked. As Lily helped wipe the dirt off Victor's face.

“Yeah, The negotiation was a success. Get me a helicopter. I need to go on a quick trip.” He said looking at the setting sun.